Please mash the ripe bananas with a fork before adding them to the bread pan. Ripe bananas are soft and are very easy to mash. Most bread machine paddles/mixers will not mash large banana chunks properly (just stirs them around) and the banana bread will not come out correctly if you have not mashed the bananas. Thanks Tom for pointing out the problem with large chunks!
The instructions that came with my (gifted) Hamilton Beach machine included a mixing, kneading, cooking time chart for each setting. I searched and found that one or two other brands also had somewhat similar charts. But most of the machines I researched did not. So, there may be no way to compare settings, and no way to predict outcome from an incomplete bread machine recipe. I even tried to identify the machine used by this author (from the pix of his control panel) but I had no luck. So, I have no idea how the settings on his machine might compare with the settings on mine.
I got a bread machine for Christmas and this is ALWAYS my go-to black banana recipe!! My quick bread setting is 1hr 43min so I make it the night before and it’s ready for breakfast in the morning. My kids are always thrilled. I do reduce the sugar to 1/3c and use half whole wheat flour (no walnuts) to try for a more wholesome recipe and it’s just as good!! <3
Same thing happened to my first loaf. I thought I had done something wrong. I suspect bread machines vary. Mine heats while the ingredients are mixing. I suspect that is why the chocolate chips melted. My loaf was underdone and caved in the middle. As if a hunk of mashed banana didn’t mix completely. I’m really assuming the castropy happened because of the bread machine. It did smell amazing while cooking. I wanted to throw my loaf out as well but hate wasting food. Simply; I gave it to someone else. Made it again the old fashioned way… In the oven. Better result.
zojirushi home bakery maestro mini bread machine
Select Sweet and Light settings on your machine and add raisins as per your manufacturer’s instructions. They can be added in with everything else. Start your bread machine. After the first kneading cycle is over, the bread should be smooth and stretchy. It should feel dry when you touch it. If necessary, add flour by the tablespoon to adjust the bread.
